Answers to Wisconsin unemployment questions — what does retroactive mean, when will I get benefits and what about that $600?

More than 300,000 people have filed for unemployment benefits in the past month. Applying is always a bit confusing, and the new federal law that increased benefits and expanded eligibility has made it even more so.

Yes — at least going back to the week starting March 29. . The federal government will pay the full cost of waiving the waiting period going back to March 29.

The state bill also may waive the one-week waiting period to March 12 for people eligible for standard unemployment benefits.

Does that include the additional $600 a week that is available through the federal law?

Yes. And the additional $600 a week will be paid retroactively to March 29 or when you became unemployed.

When will I get benefits?

It will vary. The state Department of Workforce Development is overwhelmed. But benefits will be paid from when someone became unemployed, not from when their claim was processed.

The Department of Workforce Development has asked some people to hold off on applying for benefits. What’s that about?

The department asked people who normally would not be eligible for unemployment insurance — such as those who are self-employed or independent contractors — to hold off on filing until the week of April 21. Those applications are now being accepted. It will take a couple of weeks for the first checks to be processed.

The department needed to reconfigure its computers to process their claims as well as the additional $600 in benefits that people will receive.

Do I need to file anything to receive the additional $600?

No. The money will automatically be added to your benefit payments. The additional $600 ends July 25.

When can I expect the money and what does retroactive mean in this situation?

The Department of Workforce Development said it plans to start making the payments, which will be retroactive, starting the week of April 26. The retroactive payments would come in one lump sum and cover unemployment periods going back to March 28.

What about the so-called stimulus checks that we are supposed to receive?

That’s a separate issue.

People with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns will receive $1,200 for an adult — $2,400 for a married couple — and $500 for each child under age 17.